Cartridge-carrier mechanism for automatic guns.



no. 693,386. v Patented Feb. I8, 1902.

r. m. GARLAND.

CARTRIDGE CARRIER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

- (Application fild Feb. 20, 1901. (No Model.) 3 ShaetsSheet l,

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I nventor.

Attorney.

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Patented Feb; l8, I902.

F. m. GARLAND.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1901.)

CARTRIDGE CARRIER MEGH-ANISM FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

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witneses. mwww No. 693,386. Patented Feb. I8, 1902. I F. M. GARLAND. CARTRIDGE CARRIER MECHANISM FDRv AUTOMATIC GUNS.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1901.)

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(No Model.) I

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Witnesses.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

FRANK M. GARLAND, OF NElV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

CARTRIDGE-CARRIER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No; 693,386, dated February 18, 1902.

Application filed February 20, 1901. serial No. 48,161. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing .at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cartridge-Carrier Mechanism for Automatic Guns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlugs. I

My invention relates to improvements in cartridge-carrier mechanism for automatic guns, the function of said mechanism being to receive a loaded cartridge and thence place it automatically between the extractor-fin gers upon the breech-block.

Itis theobject of my invention, among other things, to construct a carrier that will be ac-- tuated directly by the recoil of the barrel, as'

distinguished from a carrier that is actuated from the breech mechanism, and, further, to construct the device with the minimum number of parts, which can be economically constructed and readily assembled.

To these and other ends my invention consists in the carrier mechanism having certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and more particularly pjointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts in the several .views, Figure 1 isa transverse section of the body of a machine-gun, showing the breechblock in its forward or home position and the carrier mechanism in position to receive a loaded cartridge. Fig. 2 is a detailed View of the carrier mechanism looking from'the center of the gun, some of the parts being in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one end of the carrier-rod. Fig. 45 is a side view of a portion of the carrier-rod as seen from the left ofthe gun. Fig. 5 is anend viewof the springcollar. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the carrier-frame, taken upon line AB, and of the carrier-rod upon line CD, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a side view of a portion of the carrier mechanism as seen from the left of the gun.

It hasbeen customary heretofore to actuate the carrier mechanism of the machinegun through the medium of the breech-block but this has been found objectionable, owing chiefly to the fact that the increased friction upon the breech-block necessary to operate the carrier mechanism has frequently disarranged the parts thereof and caused serious injury to the gun. By my improved mechanism the carrier is moved toward and away from the center of thegun by spring mechanism connected with a rod which is moved in one direction by the recoil of the gun-barrel and in the opposite direction by spring mechanism. It is apparent, therefore, that the carrier mechanism acts independentlyof the breech-block, which permits the use of a lighter breech-block, and as the gun-barrel'is heavier than the breech block the strain, therefore, upon the barrel is practically nothbreech-block in the old forms.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the carrier-frame, which is preferably U shape, having a hub 2 midway of its length and upwardly-projecting arms 1 1, to the upper ends of which is rigidly secured a tray 3 by means of a rod l. The tray dis formed with a laterally-projectingbottom portion 3 for a portion of its length and an overhanging lip 3. To economize space, I have provided a tray 5, having a bottom portion 5, which is mounted and movable upon the rod 4, Fig. 7, against the action of the coil-spring 6, surrounding said rod. When the tray5is I engaged by a part of the gun, it will be moved against the action of the spring 6, and when the pressure against the tray is removed the spring will then return it to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 2,) wherein one side of the tray 5 will abut against a shoulder upo the rear of the tray 3, Fig. 7.

The particular form or construction of the carrier frame or tray is immaterial to my invention, and I do not therefore confine myself to the exact construction herein shown, as any other form or style can be used equally as well.

The carrier-rod 7 is mounted in thelugs 8 9, connected with the gun-casing l0 and held "against rotation by a feather 11, fixed in the lug 9 and entering the straight spline l2. Surrounding one end of the carrier-rod'is the coilspring 13, the ends of which abutagain'st the lug 8 and the collar 14, fixed to the rod. Another coil-spring 15 surrounds the opposite ing as compared with the strain upon the KOO end of the carrier-rod, the ends of said spring being outwardly turned and one entering a hole in the carrier-frame 1 and the other one of a series of holes 16 in the spring-collar 17. Secured to the spring-collar 17 and projectinginto the bore thereof is a feather 18, which is fitted into and movable in a spiral groove 19 around the exterior of the carrier-rod. Endwise movement of the carrier-frame upon the carrier-rod is prevented by a sleeve 20, which is inserted between the spring-collar 17 and the hub 2 of the carrier-frame. To avoid the running together of the spiral groove 19 and the spline 12, the groove 19 is terminated a short distance from the end of the carrier-rod,Fig. 3,and although the splines can be out without the use of a false piece upon the end of the rod I prefer to use one, as it cheapens the cost of manufacture. In the drawings this false piece is designated 21 and consists of a nut threaded upon the end of the carrier-rod, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Pivotally mounted to the carier-frame 1 by the screw 23 is a pawl 22, having a trip-finger 24, held in engagement against the periphery of the carrier-rod 7 by the spring 25, fastened by the screw 26 to the carrier-frame 1. In the carrier-rod 7 is a trip-recess 27, into which the finger 24 of the pawl 22 is adapted to enter, and having axial recesses 28 and 29 leading therefrom, said recesses being inclined and running out from the bottom of the triprecess 27 to nothing on the surface of the rod. The carrier-frame is held in its outward position by a catch 30, havinga trip-arm 33 and a downwardly-depending spring-arm 34,'the catch being pivotally mounted upon a pintle 31 between two cars 32 32, preferably integral with the casing 10. A recess 36, Fig. 7, in the tray 3 permits the trip-arm 33 to pass therethrough. Between the spring-arm 34 and the side of the casing 10 is a spring 35, which spring tends to throw the trip-arm 33 upward and hold the catch 30 in engagement with the tray 3, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of my device is as follows, it being understood that the position of the carrier-frame as shown in Fig. 1 is its outward position, wherein it is ready to receive a cartridge, the gun-barrel being in its forward position ready to be discharged. In this position the carrier-frame is held-against movement by the engagement of the latch 30 with the tray 3. When the gun-barrel,which is designated by the broken lines 37 in Fig. 3, recoils, it abuts against the end of the carrier-rod 7 and moves the same in the direq- -tion of the arrow, the carrier-rod being held against rotation by the feather 11, entering the spline 12, as before described. It is immaterial to my invention whether the gunbarrel itself abuts against the end of the carrier-rod or a part connected therewith, for in some cases I provide a collar or a yoke surrounding the barrel, which engages with and actuates the carrier-rod. The longitudinal spring-collar 17 to rotate by the engagement of the feather 18 with the spiral groove 19, which rotation winds the spring 15, and the increased tension upon the carrier-frame tends to throw the same inwardly or toward the center of the gun. The rearward movement of the carrier-rod continues until the finger 24 upon the pawl 22 enters the trip-recess 27 opposite the recess 29 and is there held by the spring 25. WVhen the carrier-frame is in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the pawl-finger 24 is in line with the recess 29. If the recoil of the barrel continues to move the carrier-rod rearwardly after the pawl-finger 24 has entered the recess 27, the said pawl-finger rides through the recess 29 onto the surface of the carrier-rod, and after the force of the recoil is spent the spring 13 draws the carrier-rod forward, and the pawlfinger 24 rides downwardly through the recess 29 into the recess 27 again and the carrierrod is held againstfurther forward movement. The gun-barrel can now be drawn forward into its home position and the breech-block be manipulated as desired. To load the gun, a cartridge (designated by the broken lines 39) is dropped through the passage 38 in the case 10 after the barrel is home onto the triparm 33, which is depressed, permitting the cartridge to rest upon the bottom 3 of the tray 3 and the bottom 5 of the movable tray 5. The depression of the trip-arm 33 frees the latch 30 from the tray 3, releasing the carrier, and the spring 15 throws the carrier inwardly, which movement places the cartridge in position in the breech-block. This inward position of the carrier-frame is shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1. The carrier-rod 7 be ing held against rotation and the hub 2 of the carrier-frame 1 being given a rotary movement about the carrier-rod causes the pawlfinger 24 to be drawn circumferentially through the trip-recess 27 out of line with the recess 29 and into line with the recess 28. There being nothing now to hold the carrierrod in its rearward position the spring 13 draws said rod to its original forward position, the pawl-finger 24 riding through the recess 28 into the surface of the carrier-rod. The forward movement of the carrier-rod causes a reverse rotary movement of the spring-collar 17, and hence a reverse winding movement of the spring 15, which throws the carrier outwardly again until the spring-catch 30 engages the tray 3, being thrown into position by the spring 35, and the parts are held against movement, as before described, with the carrier ready for a new cartridge. The spring 15 is dead at about the middle of the stroke of the carrier-rod 7, with the maximum inward tension of the spring 15 upon the carrier when the pawl 24 is in register.

with the circumferential recess 27 and the maximum outward tension when the carrierrod 7 is in its extreme forward position. When the carrier-rod is being returned by the spring movement of the carrierrod 7 causes the i 13, the first part of the movement of the collar 17 causes the unwinding of the spring to its dead condition, and the balance of the movement winds the spring in the reverse direction to thatgiven when thecarrier-rod is actuated from the gun-barrel. of the spring is now exerted toward throwing the carrier-frame outwardly and remains so while the parts occupy the positions as shown in Fig. 2, thereby relieving the strain upon the latch 30. \Vhen the carrier-rod is actuated from the gun-barrel, the spring is first unwound,relieving the spring-pressu re which holds the carrier-frame in its outward position and then winds the spring in the reverse direction, the tension of which is exerted toward throwing the carrierinwardly to the center of thegun. this description that the carrier is actuated entirely by a longitudinally-movable rod and spring mechanism, the means for moving the herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the 'spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new is 1. Inan automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-m ovable rod engaged by the barrel in its recoil; of a transversely-movable cartridge carrier rotatably mountedthereon; of spring mechanism connected therewith; and means actuated by the movement of the said rod for varying the-tension of saidspring mechanism so that the said spring mechanism will actuate the cartridgecarrier in either direction accordin g to the direction of movement of saidrod.

2. In an automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-movable rod having a peripheral groove therein; of a rotatablymounted cartridge-carrier; of spring mech-' a it? anlsm surounding said rod and having connectionwithsaid cartridge-carrier and means having connection with said spring Inechanism and said peripheral groove for varying the tension of said spring mechanism, whereby the movement of said rod will actuate the aforesaid cartridge-carrier in either direction through said spring mechanism.

3. Inan automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-movable, non-rotatable rod having peripheral spiral grooves therein;

of acartridge-carrier rotatably mounted upon said rod; a'collar having a detent entering said spiral groove; and a coil-spring having connection at one end with the aforesaid carrierand at the other end with said collar.

4. In an automatic gun, the combination with a non-rotatable rod having a peripheral The tension It willbe apparent from' groove therein; of means for imparting a longitudinal movement to said rod; a collar having'a detent connected therewith and entering the said peripheral groove; a coil-spring having connection wit-lithe said collar at one end and a movable part at'the other'end, the said spring being so held by the said collar that the movement of the said rod in either direction winds and unwinds the said spring.

5. In an automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-movable carrier-rod; of a trans versely-movable carrier mounted there on; a collar upon said rod; a coil-spring having connection at one end with said collar and at the other end with the said carrier; and

means whereby the said carrier may be actuated in either direction from the said rod through the said coil-spring and collar.

6. In an automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-movable carrier-rod; of

' a transversely-movable carrier mounted thereon; a collar upon said rod; a coil-spring having connection at one end with said collar and at the other end with said carrier; means Whereby the said carrier may be actuated in either direction from the said rod through the said coil-spring and collar; and latch mechanism for holding said carrier in its outward position.

7. In an automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-movable carrier-rod; of

a transversely-movable carrier mounted there on; a collar mounted upon and rotated by-the movement of said rod;a coil-spring having connection at one end with said collar and at the other end with said carrier; and mechan= ism surrounding one end of said rod-for m0v= ing the same inone direction. 7

8. In an automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-movable carrier-'rod7; .of a carrier-frame 1 having a tray?) connect ed therewith; aspring-collar 17 mounted upon said carrier-rod and rotated thereby; coilspring 15 having connection at one end with said spring-collar and at the other endwith said carrier; latch 30 and coil-spring 13.

9. In an automatic gun, the combination with a longitudinally-movable carrier-rod having trip-recesses therein ;'a transversely-movable carrier having a pawl connected there with which is adapted to enter said trip-recess and limit the movement of said rod in one di rection; a coil-spring for actuating the-said carrier; means connected with the gun-barrel cumferential recessin one side thereof and' axial recesses leading from-eitherendofsaid circumferential recess; a transversely-movable carrier mounted thereon and having a pawl connected 'therewithwhich is adapted to enter said trip recess and limit the movement of said rod in one direction; and a coil- I movable carrier mounted thereon and having spring surrounding said rod for moving the f a pawl connected therewith which is adapted same in counter-recoil direction. to enter said trip-recess and limit the move- 15 11. In an automatic gun, the combination ment of said rod in one direction; and a coil- 5 with a longitudinally-movable carrier-rod enspring, surrounding said rod for moving the gaged by the barrel in its recoil having a cirsame in counter-recoil direction. cumferential recess in one side thereof and In testimony whereof I affix my signature axial recesses leading from either end of said in presence of two Witnesses. circumferential recess, said axial recesses be- FRANK M. GARLAND. :0 ing inclined and running out from the bot- W'itnesses:

GEORGE E. HALL, F. E. HUBBARD.

tom of the said circumferential recess to nothing on the surface of the rod; a transversely- 

